AMES, Iowa -- Renovation of Iowa State's engine laboratory
will allow students to learn the dynamics of the latest
engines used in agriculture. The John Deere Engines
Laboratory will be dedicated today (Jan. 7) at 4 p.m. in 147
Davidson Hall.

The laboratory will include the latest in large agricultural
engines and advanced equipment and tools, said Stewart
Melvin, head of the agricultural and biosystems engineering
department in ISU's Engineering and Agriculture colleges.

"In the lab, our students will have all the tools necessary
to learn about the dynamics of large agricultural engines,"
Melvin said. "They will disassemble and reassemble some of
the latest engines available on the market today. They will
also test the performance of the engines under various loads,
learn more about their performance characteristics, fuel
consumption and operating dynamics, and they will learn the
theory and design principles of the whole engine system."

The $174,000 lab renovation is made possible by a $145,000
gift from the John Deere Foundation, Moline, Ill. Deere
provided $100,000 for renovation of the lab space and $45,000
in gifts-in-kind (engines and engine stands). The remainder
of the funds were provided by ISU's Agricultural Experiment
Station, Melvin said.

"This is a very important renovation that directly benefits
our students," Melvin added. "They now will be working on
state-of-the-art engines, they will learn about modern
technology used in today's tractors and they will work in a
laboratory that is very similar to what is found in industry
today."

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Editors:
Reporters are welcome to attend the dedication ceremonies,
which begin at 4 p.m. in 147 Davidson Hall on the northwest
side of campus.